Housing development in Enugu State has taken a new turn for good under the administration of Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Executive Governor of the State.
This has become possible through the appointment of Mr. Agu Chukwuemelie as the General Manager/CEO, Enugu State Housing Development Corporation (ESHDC), who can be described as a round peg in a round hole. In less than 24-months he assumed office, Hon. Agu’s business prowess has come to bare with new estates springing up in the Coal City.
Apart from the ESDHC building low cost houses with flexible payment plan in all the 17 LGAs in the state, they have set a vision of opening new towns within the State. In an interview with GrassRoots.ng, the GM bares his mind on the progressive ventures of ESHDC.
GRGuest: Good morning, Sir. Please, can we meet you?
My name is Agu Chukwuemelie, the General Manager, Enugu State Housing Development Corporation (ESHDC).
GRGuest: How has it been since assumption of office, especially in heading a Corporation that caters for one of the basic needs of man- housing?
Actually, it has been challenging. This table is broad; my job responsibility is huge. But, we are called to serve. I am up to it.
GRGuest: Housing Deficit is a serious challenge in Nigeria, but there are new towns and housing projects scattered around Enugu, how has the Corporation been able to do that?
All honour and gratitude go to God almighty and the Governor of the State who has been supportive of this work. He is someone who came from private environment as well. Based on my experience, I want to transform housing from civil service perspective to private sector or profit oriented perception. That is what has led to the transformation you have seen.
GRGuest: There are number of projects ongoing, like the 9th Mile, Liberty, Heritage, etc., what is the scope of work at these projects?
Actually, I have done seven estates judging from the time I assumed office. Starting from Transparency Estate to Heritage, WTC-Citadel 1&2 to Rangers 1&2. All we have done on sites and service. This implies enabling people to develop these estates themselves. We give them communal living- gates apartments, water, electricity and other facilities. We also give them little time to develop; therefore, within one year to two years. If you fail to develop we revoke the certificate. So, we are working with willing and capable people to develop these estates. We want them (the facilities) to be fully occupied within two years period.
GRGuest: At what rate have houses appreciated in Enugu, in terms of Affordability and occupancy?
Before now, we are seeing heavy congestion in Enugu which was not there when we were young and growing. Thus, under this dispensation we are developing the outward parts of the metropolis. We want a situation were value is added to the out-sketch of the State. In places like the United States, you see people drive 30minutes to an hour to go to work and still go back. That is what we are trying to achieve here; such that people can come from Abakpa, Awkunanau, Four-Corner, Nsukka to attend to their daily activities in the metropolis and still go back for 20 to 30minutes drive. I would say, to an extent, we have achieved that. But, our programme is still running.
GRGuest: Financing is one of the challenges faced in the housing sector. How has ESHDC tackled this?
Sincerity is one key thing that has helped us; people know us that when you pay we plug back the money into infrastructure. So, any Estate project we have isn’t done as ‘usual’. Also, we are selling to people that have effective demand. They want a facility and ready to put in fund to develop the place. Therefore, as they put in their money, the infrastructure are also put in place. We have capable contractors who can afford to invest on Infrastructure and recoup their funds over-time. All this we have put together to get viable results.
GRGuest: Following the rate of population growth in Nigeria, what is the future of housing in Enugu State in particular?
The future is bright; basically, we are laying the foundation for those coming after us to think and develop better. Technology has improved in the housing sector too. However, you can’t do much without adequate funding. With the number of estates we are developing during my dispensation is going to add values to what my predecessors have done. Many of them we have served on this capacity did creditably well. What this means is that with time, people can afford to have enough funds to maintain the old estates and dig into the future. Because land is a scarce commodity, currently, we are trying to discuss with communities where lands are sold at N200,000 or N400,000, so we want to develop estates around them which will automatically add value to the remaining lands. This will also accord them security; normally, we have armed security personnel for all our estates. Apart from that, you are bringing people from different spheres of life to the communities. With that, the economy of that community will go up; shops, markets, schools, hotels, and other demands will come up. So, the future is bright for the housing sector in Enugu State. Already, we have 36 estates. With the grant rents, service charges, there will be enough funds to maintain existing estates and develop new ones.
GRGuest: When Can the people start seeing low cost housing schemes developed?
Often times, I hear people demand for low cost housing. To me, it is interesting. But, we have to tell ourselves the truth. First, we should have low cost cement, iron rods; generally speaking, we should have low cost infrastructure and building materials, because I don’t know how people want us to do it in as much as we have that in mind. Meanwhile, as a commercialised entity, we are making money to pay our salaries, taking care of the overhead cost. We don’t have any money coming from the State per say, as much as we would have if we were under the State fully. We build based on relative cost of what we are using to build the house. Nevertheless, we have integrated low income earners through the Federal Mortgage Bank (FMB), so that they can pay over time. For instance, if a cost of one bedroom is N3million, most people might not be able to achieve it. Some people in the society can’t even save up to N50,000 per annum. If you multiple N50,000 (assuming they don’t touch the salaries), how many years will it take them to pay back. So, we already have relationship with the Federal Mortgage Bank and other primary mortgage institutions. Therefore, we have a plan for low income earners; where the alottees will pay the mortgage institutions over time. Therefore, building low cost houses depends on cost of materials.
GRGuest: What are your legacy projects?
This year, we have a different perspective or plan. We build for everybody depending on what our market says. So, we are going to have some ‘nucleus apartments’ in some of our estates. Also, in some estates, people have not started developing their property; we are going to encourage them by building in some of them. So, we have four new projects coming up. We are doing 4-bedroom terrace apartment; which is not common in the country. In some we are developing 2-3bedrooms terrace. The cost of land is high now which we are putting into consideration. This is one of the reasons we are going to build in terrace form which will give us more houses in small portions of lands. I have a dream of developing a new city entirely. But everything depends on our partners- investors who will assist us to achieve this. We have a vision of doing that, but I can’t disclose ‘where’ for now, because it might affect our productivity. The kind of development there will include houses, schools, tennis lawns, golf courses, all built in one area. It is going to be massive and will touch lives, inclusive of both high, middle and low income earners.
WTC ESTATE
VALLEY ESTATE
CITADEL ESTATE
RANGERS ESTATE
and many more….
GRGuest: What factors gave rise to the kind of structures in Enugu. For instance, there are no high rising buildings coming up?
It is a combination of many factors- economic, socio-cultural and environmental. Also, you don’t have power. If you have high rising you need escalators; I wonder how people will feel if they get locked up in an escalator or someone climbing like 10-staircases. It is something we are threading with caution. Culturally, you need highly productive people or cosmopolitan people who can co-habitat in same area so you don’t create room for issues like this person is occupying my car park space or the other person is using my staircase and he is making noise. But the main issue is sustaining such high-rising buildings.
GRGuest: From Housing sector perspective, what value will the electorate see that will make them align with His Excellency, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who has indicated interest to be voted in for the second term?
His Excellency has already returned. It’s just for us to join the winning team. He has done well on his part. We call him ‘Magic Governor’. We can’t fathom how he does the numerous projects in the State. God knows why he probably came at this period in time. Whatever we are doing in the housing sector rubbed-off from his style of governance. He believes in due diligence, due process, humble and transparent person. He is a workaholic. We are trying to match-up with this pace and be able to satisfy him a little. On his coming back, I believe, has been endorsed on earth and in heaven. I don’t think anybody can stop that, because good product, they say, doesn’t need much marketing. So, we have the same winning mentality and we are waiting for the celebration of his return.
GRGuest: What is ESDHC’s relationship with private developers?
As the general manager of the Corporation, my duty is to get investors that are into real estate. Money is one thing, technical expertise is another. So, we are bringing, finance and expertise together. Before you become our partner we must have seen your precedents. That will give us the understanding that you have both financial and technical capacities to work with us. Also, your activities must be in line with the corporations regulations. We have seasoned engineers who carry out thorough supervisions. In all ends ‘it is closed’.
GRGuest: What is the value of ESHDC’s selling property at the moment?
The value varies. We are actually trying to reach out to Nigerians outside the country. We have started sending out letters to such organisations. We noticed that most of them would want to invest, but they are scared of being duped. As a government arm we offer you protection and give you value on money spent, because what we have in our offer letter is what you will have in your estate. We don’t promise and fail. So, we are trying to reach the people to let them experience what we do.
GRGuest: How Do you relax after office?
I used to socialise, but this office currently demands a lot of time. After the office we have series of meetings; I still report to His Excellency as well. But all the same I go to church and still play soccer.
GRGuest: Most time, productivity happens when you work with people of like-minds. How would you describe your staff?
These are civil servants. You need to be on toe using the carrots and sticks to reward productivity and punish indulgences. Motivation is key, especially for those who are ready productivity. There is no room for excesses or passing on blames.
GRGuest: What is your message to young people in Enugu State?
It is important they know that one can shine from anywhere. There is always a God-factor in everything we do. There is a saying, ‘work as everything depends on it and pray as if everything depends on God’. Both put together, you will get your result.